‘The Big Bang Theory’ Season 8 Spoilers: How The Shocking Finale Ending Will Affect Sheldon In Season 9

Fans of “The Big Bang Theory” were left with their jaws on the ground after a major surprise in the final moments of the Season 8 finale. After five years of dating, Amy (Mayim Bialik) finally got fed up with Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and decided to break things off -- just as Sheldon was getting ready to take their relationship to the next level.

Viewers have witnessed the ups and downs of the couple over the past few seasons. Amy has always been jealous of Penny’s (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) physical relationship with Leonard (Johnny Galecki), and has done her best to heat things up with Sheldon -- enlisting the help of role-playing dice and even faking illness. However, things took a turn during the Season 8 finale when Amy realized her relationship with Sheldon wasn’t going anywhere.

For those who missed the installment Thursday night, Amy became upset when Sheldon interrupted a steamy make-out session to talk about the television show “The Flash.” By the end of the episode, Sheldon figured out what he did wrong and looked to reconcile with Amy via Skype. But Amy wasn’t interested. In the biggest surprise of the episode, Amy asked Sheldon for space and hung up on him. Viewers discovered afterward that Sheldon was going to do much more than apologize -- because he had a ring in his hand.

Showrunner Steve Molaro told the Hollywood Reporter that Sheldon’s ring isn’t the big thing to take away from the Season 8 finale -- it’s the fact Sheldon wasn’t “expecting” Amy to take a step back. The breakup is going to put him in a new and “interesting” situation as he attempts to navigate his feelings for her while juggling what makes him comfortable in a relationship.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but he’s clearly fond of her,” Molaro explained. “I don’t think they’re done speaking by any means. He’s so fond of her -- something is going to happen between them, I’m sure.”

The big shake-up will affect not only Sheldon but the rest of the group as well. But that doesn’t mean “The Big Bang Theory” writers are already busy with Season 9. Molaro told Yahoo TV they have yet to write the Season 9 premiere.

“There have been discussions, and we certainly have been talking about it,” the showrunner teased. “But nothing’s set in stone yet.”

“The Big Bang Theory” Season 9 will return to CBS in the fall. What do you think of the big Season 8 game changer? Tweet your thoughts to @AmandaTVScoop.